Ear-removing device



4 Sheets-Sheet l S. E. MORRAL ET AL EAR REMOVING DEVICE Filed Nov. 12 1920 INVENTORS J/wunZT/Waeemz.

BY W Woes/7A.

ATTORNEY.

S. E. MORRAL ET AL EAR REMOVING DEVICE Filed Nov. 12. 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 R I N VEN TORS, fin/V5115 Me a ATTORNEY:

6, 1925- 5. E. MORRAL ET AL Oct.

EAR REMOVING DEVICE [Mam W M e254.

Filed O 12, 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS.

ATTORNEY.

iatenteol Oct. 6, i925.

SAMUEL E. IJEORRAL AND \I ILLIAI/E W. IEORBAL,

EAR-REMOVING nnvron.

Application filed. November 12, 1920. SerialNo. Q5356? 7 To ail whom it may concern it known that we, SAMUEL E. Monnnn and TVILLIAM 1V. M RRAL, citizens of the United States, residing at Morral, in the county of filial-ion and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ear-Removing Devices, of which the'following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This .invention relates to .ear removing devices such asare employed in connection with corn husking machines and the like.

One object of the invention is to provide an ear removing device whichwill separate the ear from the stalk without crushing or breaking the stalk, thus enabling the stalk to'be again placed in a shock; and to this end it is a further object of the invention to provide snapping rollers of special construction which will feed the stalk between the] rollers, without crushing it, and snap the car from the stalk.

A further object of the invention is to provide an ear removing devicewhich will snapthe ear from the stalk without shelling the corn from the ear.

It is also ,an object of the invention to provide suitable means for feeding the stalks to the ear removing devices and properly positioning the ears with relation to such devices. I e Other objects of the invention will appear as the mechanism is described in detail.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a corn husking machinev embodying our invention; Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of such a machine; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same; Fig. 4: is a transverse sectional "view taken centrally through the snappingrollers; Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of one ofthe-snapping rollers; -6 is a side elevation of a moditied form of snapping roller; Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view of the roller shown in Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view showing a further modified form of snapping roller; and Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional View showing form of snapping roller. v

In these drawings we have illustrated one embodiment of our invention, together with cert-ainmodifications of the snapping rollers, and have shown the same as forming part of a portable corn husking machine another modified shock. The mechanism is of such a character that the stalks will be fed first to the snapping rollers where the ears are removed and the stalksdelivered to a pile in the rear of the machine. The cars, as they are removed from the stalks, pass to corn husking' devices which remove the husks therefrom and deliver the husked'ears to a conveyor which carries them to the wagon or other desired point of deliv ery. It will be understood, however, that this particular mechanism has been chosen for the purpose ofillustration only and that the invention, in'its essential characteristics, may be utilized with corn husking devices of various kinds, or if desired, may be used independently of a corn husking device.

In, the construction here illustrated the machine comprises a main frame l which is preferably mounted on wheels 2S0 that it can be readily transported'from one point to another. Supported above the frame 1 by standards 3 is' a platform consisting of a substantially horizontal portion 4 and an inclined portion 5, the inclined portion sloplngdownwardly toward the front end of the machine, that is,the end at which the stalks of corn are delivered to the machine and from which they are moved toward the ear removing devices. At its front end the inclined platform 5 is provided with an upwardly extending part 6 which, with the platform, forms a trough in which the corn is piled as it is taken from the shock and from which it is fed toward the horizontal portion 1 of the platform by suitable feeding devices. As'here shown, the feeding devices comprise feed chains 7 provided with projections, or cleats, 8, and passingabout sprocket Wheels secured to shafts 9 and 19, mounted near the front and rear ends of the inclined platform, the sprocket wheels being soarranged that theupper stretches of thefeed chains will travel just above the platform. The feeding device may be operated inany suitable manner, but, as here shown, the shaft 9 has secured thereto a worm wheel 11 with which meshes a worm 12 carried by a shaft 13 which is driven by means of beveled gearing 14 from a shaft 15 journaled on the standards 3 at the front end of the machine. The shaft 15 constitutes the main driving shaft of the machine and may be driven in any suitable manner, but we prefer that it shall be driven from a motor mounted on the frame of the ma chine and to this end we have here shown an internal combustion engine 16 mounted on the frame 1 and connected, by means of a belt 17, with the shaft 15.

As the stalks of corn are fed from the inclined to the horizontal platform they are advanced by othermeans to the snapping rollers. They may be moved into engage-- ment with the snapping rollers in any suitable manner but we prefer to provide power driven mechanism for feeding them forwardly, and, as here shown, we have provided a feeding device comprising feed chains 18 having cleats 19 and extending about sprocket wheels carried by shafts 20 and 21, journaled beneaththe platform 4 near the rear and front edges thereof, respectively. The sprocket wheels are so po sitioned with relation to the platform that the upper, or operative, stretches of the feed chains will be spaced above the platform adistance sufficient to prevent a stalk being moved out of engagement with the cleats if the stalk rides over the ear. The feeding device may be operated in any suitable manner but we have here shown the front shaft 21 as driven by a chain 22 from a shaft 23 journaled on the upright standards 3 at the rear end of the machine and driven from the main driving shaft 15 by a sprocket chain 24. If desired guide arms may also be provided to hold the stalks in engagement with the cleats on the chains and, as here shown, arms 25 are arranged above and spaced at short distance from the feed chains, these arms being rigidly secured to and extending forwardly from a transverse bar 26. J ournaled in the front ends of thearms 25 is a shaft 27 having secured thereto a plurality of pin wheels 28 arranged to engage the stalks of corn and positively move them one at a time between the feed chains and the guide arms. These pin wheels may be rotated in any suitable manner but, as here shown, the shaft 27 carries a gear 29 which meshes with a gear 30 on the shaft 21.

The ear removing devices, or snapping rollers, are arranged near the rear end of the horizontal platform 4 and are here shown as spaced a short distance from the rear edge of that platform.- The lower roller 31 is carried by a shaft 32 which is driven by a sprocket chain 33 from the shaft 23. The upper roller 34 is carried by a shaft 35 journaled on the transversely extending bar 26 and is driven from the shaft 23 in a direction opposite that in which the roller 31 is driven. To this end the shaft 23 is connected by means of a sprocket chain 33 with a. counter shaft 36 which in turn is connected by spur gearing 37 with the shaft 35, which carries the upper snapping roller. The snapping rollers may be of any suitable character but are preferably so constructed and arranged that they will permit the passage of the stalk of corn between the rollers without breaking it, will snap the ear from the stalk, and will not shell the corn from the ears to such an extent as to be seriously objectionable. We have found in practise that snapping rollers of a small diameter are less liable to shell the corn from the ears than are rollers of larger diameters. In order to use the small rollers to snap the ear from the stalk we have found it desirable to so shape, or mount, the rollers that when they are in one position a space or clearance will be provided between them sufficient to permit the passage of-the stalk, after which the further rotation of the rollers will cause them to engage the earand sever the same from the stalk. This may be accomplished in various' ways and, by way of illustration, we have shown several shapes and arrangements of snapping rollers which will operate in a satisfactory manner. In that form shown in Figs. and 5 each snapping roller has on one side thereof a circumferentially arranged series of corrugations, or ribs, 38 which extend longitudinally of the roller and are so arranged that the ribs of the two rollers will cooperate to snap the ear from the stalk. Inasmuch as the ribbed portions of the rollers will not satisfactorily feed the stalk between the rollers, in the arrangement shown, we have extended the series of ribs for a portion of the circumference only of each roller and have so constructed the other side of the roller that it will act on the stalk to feed it between the rollers, and as here shown we have provided a se ries of teeth 39 which are separated by relatively deep recesses and are arranged to engage the stalk and feed the same between the two rollers. The ear removing portions of the rollers may be of any suitable length but in Figs. 2, 3 and 5 we have shown these portions of the rollers as relatively short :and arranged to constitute intermediate portions of the rollers. The end portions of the rollers, on one or both sides of the ear removing portions thereof, are provided with spiral ribs, or screws, as shown at 40, which are arranged to engage the butt end of an ear and move the stalk and the ear lengthwiseto bring the ear into engagement with the ear removing portions of the rollers. Consequently, it is not necessary that the stalk should be' accurately positioned with relation to the snapping rollers but it is suflicient if the ear will engage any part of the snapping rollers.

Preferably the spiral ribs are also provided with recesses, as shown at 51 in Fig. 5, which are arranged in line with the spaces between the teeth 39-of the ear removing portions. The spaces between the teeth 89, and the recesses in the spiral ribs, constitute longitudinally, extending channels which receive the stalk of corn and prevent the same from being crushed as it passes between the rollers. The spiral ribs in addition to movingthe ear into contact with the ear removing portions of the rollers also serve to turn the ear so that it will extend transversely to the rollers, thus causing the butt only of the ear to be engaged by the ear removing portions of the rollers and preventing almost entirely the shelling of the grains of corn from the ear by the rollers.

lowever, if desired, the corrugated positions of the snapping rollers may be extended for the full length of the rollers and the spirals omitted, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

In Fig. 8 we have shown another arrangement of snapping rollers in which the rollers, which are shown at 48, are eccentrically' mounted, so that when in the position shown in the drawings sufficient space will be provided between them for the passage of astalk'of corn. The continued rotation .of the rollers will bring into operative positions the other portions of the rollers, which have longer radii, so that these portions may act upon the ear of corn to sever the same from the stalk. These rollers'may have any suitable surface but, as here shown, they are corrugated throughout their circumferences.

In Fig. 9 we have shown still another arrangement of snapping rollers in which the rollers 49 and-50 are corrugated on one side of thelr circumferences and have smooth surfaces on the other sides thereof. One of the rollers 49 has its smooth portion of ashorter radius than the corrugated portionwhile the other roller 50 has the-corrugated tions, either smooth or corrugated, of shorter radius, to correspond with the roller 49'and,

further, that in that form of the rollers shown in Fig. 8 either one or both of the rollers may be eccentric.

That portion of the shaft 35 lying between th snapping roller 34 and the gears 37 may be provided with a plurality of pin wheels 41 which engage the stalks of corn an'd 'assist in moving the same toward theedge of the platform. The transverse'bar 26 must 'be supported in such a manner that the supports therefor w1ll not mterfere with the passage of the stalks ofconl'along the platform 4 and, as here shown, 1t is supported at one end, at the left hand end in Fig. 2, directly on the frame, but its other, or right hand, portion projects a considerable dis- "tance beyond the main frame and'is supported at its outer end at such a point that the support will not interfere with .the passage of the corn stalks. Downwardly curved guard fingers 46 are secured to the rear edge of the platform 4 and serve to support the stalks of corn'out of engagement with the sprocket wheels as they are discharged from the platform.

T he ears, as they are separated from the stalks, drop downwardly away from the snapping rollers and to facilitate this movement of the ears we prefer to set the upper snapping roller slightly in advance of the lower roller. Theears may be delivered from the snapping rollers at any desired point but in the present machine the platform I scription of the several parts thereof and it will be apparent that we have provided an ear removing mechanism which is very simple in its' construction and operation and which will feed the stalks of corn to the snapping rollers, properly position the same with relation thereto, remove the ears from the stalks without breaking the latter, de-

liver the stalks to a pile in front of'the machine, and deliver the ears to the huski'ng rollers.

While we have shown and described one embodiment of our invention, we wish it to be understood that we do not desire to be limited to the details thereof as various modifications may occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having now fully described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a machine of the character described, a supporting structure, a pairof snapping rollers carried bysaid structure, said structure and said rollers being arranged to permit a stalk of corn to pass between said rollers in a position substantially parallel therewith and to prevent the passage'of an ear on said-stalk, means to actuate said snapping rollers, said rollers having ear removing portions of less length than said rollers and also having other means to en- .gage saidear and move said stalk lengthwise of said rollers to bring the car into portions to engage the ear and move the stalk lengthwise of said rollers to bring the ear into engagement with the ear removing,

portions of said rollers.

3. In a machine of the character described, a pair of snapping rollers, means to presenta stalk of corn to said rollers in aposition substantially parallel therewith, said rollers being arranged to permit the passage of said stalk but to prevent the passage of an ear of corn on said stalk, ant means for actuating said snapping rollers, said rollers having intermediate ear removing portions and having at the opposite ends of said 'ear' removingpprtions spiral ribs arranged to engage the butt of said ear and impart lengthwise movement to said stalk to bring the car into engagement with said ear removing portions of said rollers.

4. In a machine of the character described, a pair of snapping rollers, means to present a stalk of corn to said rollers in a position substantially parallel therewith, said rollers being arranged to permit the passage of said stalk but to prevent the passage of an ear of corn on said stalk, and means for actuating said snapping rollers, said rollers having ear removing portions and also having spiral ribs arranged to engage the butt of said ear and impart lengthwise movement to said stalk to bring the car into engagement with the ear removing portions of said rollers.

5. In a machine of the character described, a pair of snapping rollers, means to present a stalk of corn to said rollers in a position substantially parallel therewith, said rollers being arranged to permit the passage of said stalk but to prevent the passage of an ear of corn on said stalk, and means for actuating said snapping rollers, said rollers having ear removing portions and one of said rollers having a spiral rib arranged to engage the butt of said ear and impart lengthwise movement to said stalk to bring the ear into engagement with said ear removing portion of said rollers.

6. In a machine of the character described, a pair of snapping rollers each havmg an ear removing portion, means for actuating said snapping rollers, a feeding device moving transversely to the axes of said snapping rollers to move stalks of corn transversely of their length toward said snapping rollers, said snapping rollers having means arranged at the opposite ends of the ear removing portions'thereof and independent of said actuating means to move said stalks of corn lengthwise and to bring the ears thereon into engagement with said ear removing aortions of said rollers.

7. In a machine of the character described, a pair of snapping rollers, means for presenting a stalk of corn to said rollers in a position substantially parallel therewith, said rollers being arranged to permit the passage of said stalk of corn without crushing the same, and one of said rollers having on one side thereof a part to feed the stalk between the rollers and having on the opposite side thereof a part to remove the ear from the stalk.

8. In a machine of the character described, a pair of snapping rollers, means for presenting a stalk of corn to said rollers in a position substantially parallel therewith, said rollers being arranged to permit the passage of said stalk of corn without crushing the same, and each if said rollers having on one side thereof a part to feed the stalk between the rollers and having on the opposite side thereof a part to remove the car from the stalk.

9. In a machine of the character described, a pair of snapping rollers, means for presenting a stalk of corn tosaid rollers in a position substantially parallel therewith, said rollers being arranged to permit the passage of a stalk of corn without crushing the same, and one of said rollers having on one side thereof a circumferentially arranged series of longitudinal ribs and having on the opposite side thereof a plurality of teeth, said parts being so arranged that said teeth will feed thestalk of corn between the rollers without crushing it and said ribs will remove the ear from the stalk.

10. In a machine of the character described, a pair of snapping rollers each having on one side thereof a circumferentially arranged series of longitudinal ear removing ribs and having on the opposite side thereof means for feeding a stalk of corn between the rollers, means for'presenting a stalk of corn to said snapping rollers in a position substantially parallel therewith, said rollers being so arranged relatively one to the-other that said stalkwill be moved between the rollers without crushing it and said ribs will removethe ear from the stalk.

11. In a machine of the character described, a pair of snapping rollers, means for rotating said rollers in opposite directions, a feeding device extending transversely to said snapping rollers and to a point near the same, and means arrangedfa-t one end of one of'said rollers and on the outer side'of':

said feeding device to advance the end portions 'ofthe stalks as the interme'diatepOrtions thereof are fed between said rollers.

12. In a machine of the character described, a pairof snapping rollers, means for rotating said rollers in opposite direc-- ment therewithi 13. In a machine of the character described, a pair of snapping rollers, means versely to theaxes of said snapping rollers, I

for rotating said rollers in opposite directions, feeding chains moving transversely to the axes of said'rollers to advance the stalks of corn thereto, and arms arranged above and substantially parallel withtherespective chains to retain the stalks in engageev ment therewith, and .means actmgon the stalks of corn asthey approach said feeding chains to cause them to enterth'e'space between'said chains and said arms one at a time; I 1 14. In a mach ne of the character described, a pair of snapping rollers, means for rotating said rollers in opposite direc-- tive chains to retain the stalks in engagement therewith, a shaft journaled in said arms, pin'wheels carried by said shaft, ad-

jacent to the respective arms and arrangedto engage the stalks of corn as they ap- 'proach said arm, and means for rotating said, shaft; 1

15. In a machine of the character described, a pair ofsnapping rollers arranged one above the other, means for rotating said rollers .in opposite directions, stalk feeding chains moving transversely to the axes of said rollers, a transverse bar arranged above said feeding chains, bearings for the uppersnappingroller carried by one side of said bar, armssecured to the'other side of saidbar and: arranged substantially parallel to the respective chains to hold the stalks of corn in engagement therewith, and means arranged near the outer ends of said arms to'move the stalkswof corn between said chains and said arms.

16. In a machine of the character de-- scribed, a Imam frame, aplatfor-m carried by said 'main frame, a transverse bar supported atone endiof said" main fra'meand havingone end extending laterally beyond said main frame,-a snapping rollerjournaled in bearings carried by said platform, a second snapping roller journaled in bearings.

' carried by-.-saic ltranSVQlS6 a iV-feeding dew vice arranged between: said platform and said transverse 'bar. and moving transversely 'to the axes'of ,said snapping rollers, and means for rotating said snapping rollers in opposite directions. V

17. In a machine of the character described, a main frame, a platform carried by said main frame, a transverse bar supported at one end ofzlsaid main frame and having one end extendinglaterallybeyond said main frame, a snapping roller jourl-r naled 1n bearings carried by said platform,

a second snapping roller journaled in bearings carried by said transverse bar, a feed mg device arranged between saldplatform and'said transverse bar and moving transmeans for rotating said snapping rollers in opposite directions, said last mentioned snapping rollers comprising a shaft extend ing beyond the end thereof, and pin wheels carried by said shaft; I

18. In a machine of; thecharacter described, asubstantially horizontal platform, a pair of snapping rollers arranged with their axes in substantially horizontal planes near oneedge of said platform, feeding devices movable over said platform and transversely to said axes of said snapping rollers to move stalks ofcorn toward the same, means cooperating'with said devices to hold the stalks of corn in operative engagement therewith, an inclined platform arranged to receive stalks of corn from the shock, and a feeding device movable over said inclined platform to move the stalks of corn toward said horizontal platform.

a 19. A snapping roller comprising an intermediate portion havinglongitudinally eX- tending ribson one side thereof and stalk feeding teeth on the other side thereof, and having spiral -ribsv on both end portions thereof to engage'the ear'and feed the stalk lengthwise to cause the ear to be engaged by said intermediate" portion thereof.

20. In a machine of the character described, a pair of snapping rollers, each having an ear-I removing portion, means to actuate said sna-pping rollers, a feeding device moving transversely tothe axes ofsaidsnappin-g rollers-Ito move stalks ofcorn transversely of their lengths toward. said snapping rollers, said snapping rollers having means arranged at one end of the ear removing: portions thereof to move said stalks of corn lengthwise to bring the ears thereon into engagement With said ear removing portions ofsaid snapping rollers.

'21. In a; machine of the character described,- a* pair of snapping rollers, each having an ear removing portion, means to actuate said snapping rollers, a feeding device moving transversely to the axes of said snapping-rollers to move stalks of corn transversely of their lengthS toward-saidsna y ping rollers, said snapping rollers having spiral ribs arranged at one end of the ear removing portions thereof to engage the ears and move said stalks of corn lengthwise to bring said ears into engagement with said ear removing portions of said snapping rollers. p A

22. In a machine of the character described, a pair of snapping rollers, each having an ear removing portion, means to actuate said snapping rollers, a feeding device moving transversely to the axes of said snapping rollers to move stalks of corn transversely of theirlengths toward said snapping rollers, said snapping rollers having spiral ribs arranged at bothends of the ear removing portions thereof to engage the ears and move said stalks of corn lengthwise to bring said ears into engagement with said ear removing portions of said snapping rollers.

23. In a machine of the character described, a pair of snapping rollers and means for presenting a stalk of corn to said rollers in a position substantially parallel therewith, said snapping rollers being so shaped and arranged with relation one to the other that during a portion of the rotation of said rollers their adjacent surfaces will be spaced apart to permit of the passage of astalk of corn extending lengthwise thereof, and during another portion of their rotations the adjacent surfaces will be arranged close together to snap an ear of corn from said stalk. V

24. In amachine of the character described, a pair of snapping rollers, each having a portion of its surface corrugated, and means for presenting a stalk of corn to said snapping rollers in a position substantially parallel therewith, said rollers being so arranged that whensaid corrugated portions of said rollers are adjacent one to the other they will engage the stem of an ear of corn and sever tbeear from the stalk, said rollers having other portions so arranged that when adjacent one to the other they will be spaced a substantial distance apart, thereby permitting the stalk to pass between the rollers without being-crushed, and removing theears therefrom.

25. In a machine of the'character described, a pair of snapping rollers, each having a corrugated portion, means for presenting a stalk of corn to said snapping rollers in a position substantially parallel therewith, the two rollers being so arranged that when said corrugated portions are adjacent one to the other they will sever an ear of corn from the stalk, one of said rollers having another portion of shorter radius than the corrugated portion thereof so that when said last mentioned portion is adjacent to the other roller a space will be provided between the two rollers for the passage of astalk of'co'rn. v i 4 26. In a machine of the character described, a feeding table, a pair of snapping rollers arranged substantially parallel to the feeding table, and means for presenting a stalk of corn to said snapping rollers in a position substantially parallel therewith,

said rollers beingso constructed and arposition the adjacent surfaces of said rollers will engage an ear of corn and remove the ing an opening to permit'the ear of corn I same from said stalk, said feeding table havthus separated from the stalk to pass away from the rollers.

27. In a machine of the character described, a feeding table, a pair of snapping rollers arranged substantially parallel with said table, and means to present a stalk of corn to said snapping rollers in a position substantially parallel therewith, said rollers being so constructed and arranged that when in one position a space will be'provided between said rollers to permit a stalk of corn to pass between them parallel with their axes and when in another position the adj a cent surfaces of said rollers will engage an ear of corn and remove the samefrom said stalk, said feeding table having an opening to permit the ear of corn thus separated from the stalk to pass away from the rollers.

28. In a machine of the character described, a pair of snapping rollers, and means for presenting a stalk of corn to said rollers in a position substantially parallel therewith, one of said snapping rollers having. a longitudinal recess in one side thereof to receive the stalk of corn and permit the same to pass between the rollers without being crushed.

29. In a machine of the character described, a pair of snapping rollers, and means for present-ing a stalk of corn to said rollers in a position substantially parallel therewith, one of said snapping rollers having a longitudinal recess in one side thereof to receive the stalk of corn and permit the same to pass between the rollers without being crushed, said rollers having means to remove the ears of corn from the stalks after the stalks have passed between the rollers.

30. In a machine of the character described, a pair of snapping rollers, and means for presenting a stalk of corn to one of said rollers in a position substantially parallel therewith, said rollers having corresponding peripheral portions so shaped and arranged as to provide a spacebetween said rollers when said portions are adjacent one to the other, said space being adapted to receivea stalkof corn and perit the sam t p betwe n aid rollers without being crushed, and said rollers also having their peripheral portions arranged to sever an ear from said stalk after the latter has entered said space.

31. In a machine of the character described, a pair of snapping rollers, means for presenting a stalk of corn to said rollers in a position substantially parallel therewith, one of said snapping rollers having a longitudinal recess in one side thereof to receive the stalk of corn and permit the same to pass between the rollers without being crushed, and having a spiral rib to move the stalk lengthwise of said rollers to bring the ear into contact with the ear removing portions thereof.

32. In a machine of the character de scribed, a pair of snapping rollers, a conveyor to move stalks of corn between said rollers in a position substantially parallel therewith and to discharge said stalks at a point beyond said rollers, and a guard to receive said stalks as they approach said point of discharge and cause them to be moved out of engagement with said conveyor.

In a mechanism of the character described, a pair of snapping rollers, a conveyor to move stalks of corn between said rollers in a position substantially parallel therewith and to discharge said stalks at a point beyond said rollers, and a guard having one end supported adjacent to and substantially in the plane of said conveyor and having its other end extending downwardly beyond the point of discharge of said conveyor.

34. In a machine of the character described, av pair of snapping rollers, sprocket wheels arranged on opposite sides of said snapping rollers, feed chains carried by said sprocket wheels and having their upper stretches extending between the axes of said rollers, and guards arranged on the discharge side of said rollers in a position. to receive the stalks of corn asthey approach the ends of said feed chains, said guards having; downward of an motions arrangedbeyond the discharge ends of said feed chains.

35. In a machine of the character described, a supporting structure, and a pair of snapping rollers carried by said structure, said structure and said rollers being arranged to permit a stalk of corn to pass between said rollers in a position substantially parallel therewith and to prevent the passage of an ear of corn on said stalk, said rollers having ear removing portions of less length than said rollers and also having means to engage said ear and move said stalk lengthwise of said rollers to bring the ear into engagement with the ear removing portions of said rollers, and to turn said ear to a position in which it will extend transversely to said rollers.

36. In a machine of the character described, a supporting structure, and a pair of snapping rollers carried by said structure, said structure and said rollers being arranged to permit a stalk of corn to pass between said rollers in a position substantially parallel therewith and to prevent the passage of an ear of corn on said stalk, said rollers having ear removing portions and also having means to turn said ear of corn to a position. in which it will extend transversely to said rollers.

37. In a machine of the character described, a supporting structure, a pair of snapping rollers mounted on said structure and arranged to permit a stalk of corn to pass between the same in a position parallel therewith, conveyors mounted on said structure for moving a stalk of corn transversely to its length into engagement with said snapping rollers, said rollers having means to remove an car from the stalk, and means for rotating said snapping rollers in opposite directions and :tor driving sate; Cii.- veyors.

In testimony whereof, we edit: cur sire natures hereto. 

